In a citizen-friendly initiative, the Maharashtra Government has simplified the process of preparing and registering wills across the state. The facility is now available at 517 Sub-Registrar offices in Maharashtra, enabling individuals to register and safely preserve their wills by paying a nominal fee of Rs.100.
According to officials from the Registration Department, a will can be registered at any time after it is prepared. Unlike other property-related documents, wills are exempted from the usual four-month registration deadline.
A will is a legal document through which a person can clearly specify how his or her movable and immovable assets, including the individual’s share in ancestral property, should be distributed after death. Legal experts point out that although registration of a will is not mandatory under Indian law, a registered will carries stronger evidentiary value and can help avoid disputes among legal heirs.
The Registration Department has also introduced a secure preservation facility for wills. Individuals can deposit sealed wills with District Registrars for safekeeping, which can later be withdrawn during the lifetime of the person concerned on payment of a fee of Rs.100.
Officials further clarified that after the death of the individual, the will can be formally opened by the legal heirs through the probate process in the presence of witnesses, as per legal procedures.
The move is expected to encourage more people to prepare legally valid wills and ensure smoother transfer of assets among family members.